THE BASICS:
 
- Score: No. 21 MIT 3, Brandeis University 0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-19)
 
- Records: No. 21 MIT (16-5), Brandeis (9-10)
 
- Location: Waltham, Mass. (Red Auerbach Arena)
 
- The Lead: In the first meeting between both programs since 2012, the No. 21 MIT women's volleyball team defeated Brandeis University, 25-19, 25-15, 25-19, on Thursday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- Set 1: Trailing 8-7, a kill by sophomore Lauren Keller (Albuquerque, N.M.) sparked a 5-1 run which put MIT ahead for good. Brandeis stayed close throughout the set as a kill brought it within 21-18. The Engineers responded with a kill from junior Consecrata Rozario (Cary, N.C.), an ace by senior Sofie Kupiec (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), and a block by Rozario and senior Lilly Edwards (Kansas City, Mo.) to capture set point. A setting error extended the frame for the Judges, however, MIT countered with a block by Rozario and junior Emily Cheng (Sunnyvale, Calif.) to secure the 25-19 win.
 
- Set 2: The Engineers jumped out to a 6-1 lead and never looked back as they cruised to a 25-15 victory.
 
- Set 3: MIT quickly established a 9-3 advantage which grew to 14-5 following a Brandeis hitting error. A pair of miscues by the Engineers helped the Judges slowly mount an 11-6 run that narrowed the gap to four (20-16). MIT capitalized on a pair of errors and a block by first-year Ali Gibbs (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) and sophomore Ella Gragg (Morganton, N.C.) to create some breathing room. After a hitting error by the Engineers, a kill from Gragg resulted in match point at 24-17. Brandeis responded with back-to-back kills; however, the late rally was thwarted by a kill from Keller.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Gragg paced MIT with 10 kills to go along with two blocks as Rozario finished with nine kills and four blocks. Cheng posted 29 assists and seven digs.
 
- Sophomore Ottavia Personeni (Bethesda, Md.) led all players with 15 digs followed by 10 from junior Ashley Margetts (Brownsburg, Ind.). First-year Daphne Gavros (Tiburon, Calif.) rounded out the Engineers with nine digs and two aces.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT resumes NEWMAC play when it travels to Wheaton College for a 7:00 p.m. match on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
 
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